Cable #17

THE DARK RIDE begins here! Cable and Domino visit the X-Men, but reunions are cut short by the appearance of the Dark Riders! What are the Riders after, and who is behind their resurgence?

The Dark Riders are back and eliminating old members no longer found worthy of membership. Cable, after a morning shoot-around with Cyclops, tells Storm that the Morlocks may not be dead. Heading into the sewers, Cable, Storm, and Domino fight the Dark Riders, who have found and attempted to kill Caliban.

Synopsis

In Alexandria, Egypt, Foxbat flees an unseen foe. He is finally pinned down by the newest iteration of the Dark Riders and found unworthy to rejoin their ranks. Lifeforce incapacitates Foxbat.

In the Danger Room, Cable and Cyclops do a bit of target practice in a weak attempt at bonding. Cyclops proposes to Cable that Jean teach him about his little-used mutant powers, as every seasoned warrior should use all weapons at his disposal. Cable gets snarky and states that no one has seen more war than himself. Cyclops lets his frustration get the better of him and shows off a phenomenal plasma blast. He then leaves for breakfast. Cable invites Domino down from the control room, but she declines and also heads for breakfast so as to avoid bonding with Jean.

As Cable walks down a hallway, he notes a picture of himself as a child. Beast comments on Cyclops being nicknamed "Slim" in those days, which triggers in Cable's mind the name of his adopted father in the future. At breakfast, Cable finds Storm and alerts her to the possible return of the Morlocks.

Within the hour, Cable, Storm, and Domino are traipsing through the Morlock Tunnels. Caliban appears as a threat but is soon discovered to be on the run from the Dark Riders. Cable doesn't take kindly to being ambushed and he begins blasting. Walls come down and split the fight up. Storm fights Hurricane, Domino fights Lifeforce, and Cable - having lost his guns - drops Spyne with a TK hit. The fight is brief, however, and Harddrive teleports the Dark Riders away.

Cable won't let the matter rest this easily. If Apocalypse's Dark Riders are reformed then he needs to track them down and stop them. With Caliban, finding them again should be easy enough.